Goodfellas is a terrifying film. This is why I’ve not rewatched it in decades. I’m here now because a meme reminded me of it, that’s terrible reason to watch a film, but it’s the truth and it’s probably the truth that makes this terrifying. Although this is a dramatised account, it’s based on the true story of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). “As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a gangster”, that’s pretty much Henry’s opening line as he shuts the trunk on a dead body killed by Jimmy (Robert De Niro) and Tommy (Joe Pesci) and that in a nutshell sums up the film. People tied together by violent crime. Henry is half Irish, half Italian. Growing up around the local gangsters, learning the ropes, making connections, making money, getting respect. This introduction to young Henry is important. It hammers home the family function of the mob. Once in, nothing penetrates it. It’s bred into you. You’d die for each other. You’d kill too. Goodfellas is about more than killing and stealing though. It’s about loyalty, vanity, masculinity. You can almost smell the screen. There’s a tense underbelly to every scene. Be it Tommy’s unhinged temper or Henry’s greed. Henry narrates throughout. He meets Karen (Lorraine Bracco). To begin with she seems his equal and that’s what he likes. Quickly she learns that Henry is dangerous, but she likes that too… and marries him. Once you’re in. You can’t get out. Not even if you want to. The dialogue is rapid, you feel like you’re in a pressure cooker. The camera too is always on the move, but boy does it move beautifully. Through rooms, kitchens, everyday life and energy oozes from the screen. Let’s not pretend it’s not absolutely brutal though. Yes it’s packed with style, yes it’s the characters that make it tick, but when the guns are drawn, or the knives, clubs, anything to hand, it’s bloody! Sooner or later, someone’s going to make a mistake. Tommy is that someone and the mistake is the body in the trunk in the pre-titles scene. It’s one of many mines planted in the story, buried ironically. Left, ticking. The mob lifestyle goes on, but these things are there. Remembered by those biding their time. Honestly it’s not an easy watch. There’s no good guys, the title is a total lie. Every single person on screen is a scumbag. After setting the scene for an hour, the scumbags start the infighting and the cracks begin to show. The genius of this though is how it keeps you hooked. The pacing is perfection. Henry encounters bumps, does time, his marriage on the rocks, but on it goes. He’s digging deeper though and soon digging into coke against Paulie’s (Paul Sorvino) wishes. Massive heists attract the FBI. Too many fingers in too many pies. Even as the trio of Henry, Jimmy and Tommy galvanise and try to cover their tracks, it’s too late as things unravel to classic American needle drops. They thought they were safe. High enough up the food chain, but they’ve not spotted their vulnerability. It’s a brilliant film from start to end, but you know what? That meme… it was from Casino!
8/10
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